In a scathing critique of the 2024 election process in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has accused the Election Commission (EC) of complicity in a massive voter fraud scheme that unfairly tipped the scales in favor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The TMC has alleged that the Commission’s inaction enabled widespread electoral manipulation, ultimately undermining the democratic process in the state.
TMC’s accusations are multifaceted, ranging from voter intimidation and suppression to the manipulation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Party leaders have pointed to numerous instances where voters were allegedly threatened or coerced into voting for specific candidates, or were otherwise prevented from casting their votes. These allegations, according to the TMC, were exacerbated by the Election Commission’s failure to intervene in a timely and effective manner.
The party also raised alarms about the reliability of the EVMs used during the election. They claimed that multiple reports from across West Bengal indicated suspicious discrepancies in vote counts, suggesting that the machines had been tampered with to favor the BJP. The TMC has called for a forensic audit of all the EVMs used during the election to determine whether they were tampered with.
Despite these serious allegations, the Election Commission has strongly defended its role in the election, asserting that it followed all protocols and that all claims of fraud were thoroughly investigated. The Commission dismissed the TMC’s accusations as unfounded and asserted that it had taken all necessary steps to ensure the election was free and fair.
As the political tension in West Bengal continues to escalate, the TMC has vowed to pursue all legal avenues to challenge the election results, and the allegations against the Election Commission are likely to remain a point of contention for the foreseeable future.
